TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DREW COUNTY ADVANCE JANUARY 7, 1919 P. 7
Gondrecourt, France. Nov. 24, 1918.
Mr. Wiley Cruce.
Dear Father:
As they have allowed us to write and tell anything, and any experience we have had over here, I will try to tell you a little of mine, but first I must say I am well and feeling fine. Hope this will find you all the same.
We sailed from New York the 24th of August and landed the 5th of Sept. in Liverpool, Eng. We had considerable excitement on the way over; we were lost at sea in a storm for a day and night, and during that time a submarine came up, but went down again without firing on us. So you may know just about how we felt, expecting to be blown up any minute. Then another time we were frightened in the Irish sea just before we landed, but made it to land safe.
We took the train to Liverpool and went to South Hampton, Eng., about 250 miles, and stayed there about three days and sailed across the English Channel and landed at LaHavre, France, which is next to the largest city in France. From there we went to St. Augine, and from there to Port LeVay where we trained about three weeks and then we were split up and sent to different places on the front.
I was placed at Gondrecourt which is about 39 or 40 kilometers behind the lines or front. The Germans bombed this place a few times but never did much damage. I have been in several towns where the Germans bombed but have been lucky so far. If you remember in history, General Sherman said, "War was Hell." He certainly knew what he was talking about, for that is the only thing I know of that would compare with war, but thanks to God, the thing is over. I have seen boys with their arms and legs off, eyes put out, and gassed and torn up in every way imaginable. There is two things I have to thank God for and that is I have done my bit and come out lucky, though I haven't gone through the hardships some of the poor boys have, I have always been where I could get plenty to eat and had a good place to sleep, excepting a few times, when it couldn't be avoided. I don't know ___just how long it will be before I will get to come home, not long tho I think. There is a boy with me from ____ county, Willie Burt. He has been in the hospital with the Spanish influenza, but he is out now.
Well, papa, I guess I had better be going. Give my love to all the family.
With love,
Claude Cruce.
1st Army Corps School Dept., A.P.O. 703, A. E. F.
NOTES: Claude Mitchell Cruce was born in Monticello, Arkansas on December 20, 1895 and died on December 24, 1956. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Monticello. He enlisted on June 25, 1918 and was discharged on July 3, 1919. He departed for France on August 24, 1918 from New York onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike August Automatic Replacement Draft Co. 20 Infantry. He returned from St. Nazaire, France on June 10, 1919 onboard the Roanoke. He served in Co C.,161st Infantry and First Corps School Det., A.E.F.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Gondrecourt, France. Nov. 24, 1918.
Mr. Wiley Cruce.
Dear Father:
As they have allowed us to write and tell anything, and any experience we have had over here, I will try to tell you a little of mine, but first I must say I am well and feeling fine. Hope this will find you all the same.
We sailed from New York the 24th of August and landed the 5th of Sept. in Liverpool, Eng. We had considerable excitement on the way over; we were lost at sea in a storm for a day and night, and during that time a submarine came up, but went down again without firing on us. So you may know just about how we felt, expecting to be blown up any minute. Then another time we were frightened in the Irish sea just before we landed, but made it to land safe.
We took the train to Liverpool and went to South Hampton, Eng., about 250 miles, and stayed there about three days and sailed across the English Channel and landed at LaHavre, France, which is next to the largest city in France. From there we went to St. Augine, and from there to Port LeVay where we trained about three weeks and then we were split up and sent to different places on the front.
I was placed at Gondrecourt which is about 39 or 40 kilometers behind the lines or front. The Germans bombed this place a few times but never did much damage. I have been in several towns where the Germans bombed but have been lucky so far. If you remember in history, General Sherman said, "War was Hell." He certainly knew what he was talking about, for that is the only thing I know of that would compare with war, but thanks to God, the thing is over. I have seen boys with their arms and legs off, eyes put out, and gassed and torn up in every way imaginable. There is two things I have to thank God for and that is I have done my bit and come out lucky, though I haven't gone through the hardships some of the poor boys have, I have always been where I could get plenty to eat and had a good place to sleep, excepting a few times, when it couldn't be avoided. I don't know ___just how long it will be before I will get to come home, not long tho I think. There is a boy with me from ____ county, Willie Burt. He has been in the hospital with the Spanish influenza, but he is out now.
Well, papa, I guess I had better be going. Give my love to all the family.
With love,
Claude Cruce.
1st Army Corps School Dept., A.P.O. 703, A. E. F.
NOTES: Claude Mitchell Cruce was born in Monticello, Arkansas on December 20, 1895 and died on December 24, 1956. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Monticello. He enlisted on June 25, 1918 and was discharged on July 3, 1919. He departed for France on August 24, 1918 from New York onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike August Automatic Replacement Draft Co. 20 Infantry. He returned from St. Nazaire, France on June 10, 1919 onboard the Roanoke. He served in Co C.,161st Infantry and First Corps School Det., A.E.F.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD